Co-construction of Scottish National Identity: Carolina Silveira

“Scottish national identity has emerged as a central political issue in recent years. Both the Scottish Independence and European Referendum raised an important question for Scotland: What kind of nation do we want to be? My research focuses on how the politicisation of Scottish national identity is constructed, understood, and performed through comedy. How are political ideas and viewpoints expressed in Scottish stand-up? How are identities and values (re-)produced? This approach sees nationalism as something that has to be continually constructed and ‘performed’ in everyday life. Comedy can be seen both as a ‘social thermometer’ that gages public sentiment, and as a space where ideas can be constructed anew.”